Candidate Survey – R.L. Clark

Posted on by Xpress staff

Name: R.L. Clark
Occupation: Retired
Party affiliation, if any: Republican
Political experience: N.C. state Senator 1995-98
Endorsements: None

1) How much money have you raised for your campaign?
None

2) What most distinguishes you from your opponent?
My previous legislative accomplishments: Cut over $1 billion personal, food, excise, inheritance and business taxes. Repealed intangibles tax. Created charter schools; returned control to local boards of education. Required sex offenders to register for life; repealed prison cap. Increased homestead exemptions for elders.

3) What are your top three legislative priorities?
1. Jobs creation by reducing business, individual and personal taxes plus eliminating unreasonable and unnecessary rules and regulations.
2. School choice, vouchers and removal of charter-schools cap.
3. Compliance with U.S. and N.C. constitutions regarding state sovereignty and legislative redistricting.

4) Do you favor amending or repealing the Sullivan Acts, which limit Asheville's ability to control water-system revenues? Why or why not?
Undecided. Prefer county and city resolve their issues without General Assembly involvement.

5) What methods do you favor for dealing with the state budget crunch? What effects will they have on the Asheville area?
Major spending reductions; may reduce some noncritical grants to Buncombe County and municipalities.

6) Do you favor changing the state's involuntary-annexation law? If so, how?
Yes; by two-thirds majority vote of the people to be annexed.

7) What do you recommend to remedy shortcomings in the state's mental-health-care system?
State budget transfers from noncritical programs to increase funding to the state mental health system.

8) What's your position on bringing high-speed rail to the Asheville area?
In my opinion, the N.C. Constitution leaves the provision of rail service to the private sector.

9) Do you favor benefits for same-sex domestic partners of state employees? Why or why not?
No. During my previous General Assembly terms, I co-sponsored legislation which was enacted into law defining marriage as between one man and one woman.

10) Do you support state assistance for municipalities in financial trouble? If so, in what form?
No. Local municipalities have the responsibility to balance their own budgets (refer to N.C. Constitution).

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